A community-wide school supply drive is underway through July 15. The United Way of Central Indiana, Lebanon Kiwanis Club, Gander Mountain Distribution Center, The Caring Center, Lebanon Area Boys & Girls Club, Hachette Book Group and Skjodt-Barrett and the Lebanon Wal-Mart are joining the Boone County BackPack Attack to collect new school supplies to distribute to area children in need.
More than 45 community partners have agreed to help collect supplies, including corporations, service organizations, churches and others. The school supplies will be sorted, counted, packed and delivered to Lebanon Area Boys & Girls Club for distribution from 9 a.m. to 12 noon Aug. 3. Additional supplies will be delivered, based on need, to the elementary, middle, and high schools in Boone County before school begins in August. The schools will then distribute the additional supplies to students who need them.
Cash donations also are accepted. Checks can be made out to United Way of Central Indiana with Boone BackPack Attack written in the memo line, and mailed to United Way of Central Indiana, 221 N. Lebanon St. Lebanon, IN 46052. All donations of school supplies and funds will be used in Boone County for Boone County students.
Ensuring all children are ready for school is an important and worthwhile priority for everyone in the community, according to Christie Snyder, Boone County area director for United Way of Central Indiana.
“The sad reality is that many families in our county cannot afford to buy the basic school supplies that children are required to have in the classroom,” she said. “The Boone County BackPack Attack helps remove a barrier to learning for many children living in poverty in Boone County,”
Snyder requested all donated school supplies be new. The public can drop off school supplies at all Boone County libraries, the Lebanon Wal-Mart, the Boys & Girls Club – both Zionsville and Lebanon, The Arc of Greater Boone County, Witham Family YMCA, all Witham Hospital sites and Marsh & Akard’s True Value in Zionsville. Boone County BackPack Attack donation boxes also will be located in other businesses and organizations throughout the county.
To participate in the Boone County BackPack Attack and obtain flyers listing needed supplies, please call the Boone County office of United Way of Central Indiana at 765-483-0165 or email [email protected].